The perfect way to kick off 2026 is with The Hulk — and contrary to our knowledge base surrounding our rage-addled superhero, here instead, he’s offering solace with Marvel’s Hulk Not Smash: Practice Mindfulness the Mighty Marvel Way.
Written by Amy Ratcliffe and illustrated by Jason Loo, The Hulk (alter ego Bruce Banner) has also rounded up his powerful superhero squadron to assist those in need — everyone from The Black Widow to Captain America — is rallying to teach mindfulness and self-care techniques.
Salvation through a superhero? Sign me up!
The comic is empowering and transformative in the sense that, rather than shaming or diminishing the core characteristics you have and perceiving any emotion as good or bad — to instead cultivate an ability to shift your mindset and perspective in any circumstances that you could traditionally find yourself feeling helpless and/or a loss of control with.
There are over 30 superheros featured, and each entry includes a profile with core attributes attached to each person. These traits are further broken down and offer the reader guidance on how to e.g. acquire more focus with Hawkeye’s tips; connect in nature with Groot; and harness the power of reinvention and mind mapping with Iron Man.
Marvel superheroes unite to teach mindfulness and self-care in a groundbreaking comic
To whet your appetite, let’s unpack the turmoil The Hulk contends with and how the book helps one with similar anger issues navigate such struggles. The key framework is understanding that anger isn’t necessarily bad — it’s your nervous system alerting you about something — but it’s being able to honor and acknowledge the sentiment without letting it get the best of you and to learn how to control the behavior (rather than letting it hijack your psyche). The Hulk therefore advises the following:
Don’t smash — practice emotional non-reactivity. When another person’s action makes you feel an intense emotion, pass and sit with that emotion before reacting.
What to do: don’t suppress — your emotions are valid — recognize and acknowledge them. Pause and count to 10 before responding. Notice the difference that space brings to your reaction.
The layout of the guidance is a one-pager from each superhero; it’s an easily digestible format offering advice and the best tips you can put into practice immediately. If anything, offering proven strategies for therapy, but one through a comic book lens, is not only bringing levity to an otherwise heavy-handed subject matter — but actually makes it engaging, memorable, and adds another layer of humility to our all-power roster of superheroes. The comic is available now via Chronicle Books.
