Don’t worry! The image on the right is not the new direction that Disney is taking their evergreen mascot, but as the New York Times (free subscription required) reports, the company is having trouble finding a vital role for Mickey to play in this day and age. The sketch here comes from Nick Lowe, a Marvel Comics editor who sees “superhero potential” in the character, while Marvel’s CEO Avi Arad says Mickey needs a new voice in this new world, and that Disney must “Decide who is the guy under the ears”.

The article talks to author Maurice Sendak (Where The Wild Things Are), Dave Smith of the Walt Disney Archives, and others in the cartoon, movie and marketing trades, and also features a number of “reimaginings” from various artists, including Disney’s own Teacher’s Pet creator Gary Baseman: a very interesting piece that looks at Mickey’s past and his uncertain future. Thanks to ‘MusicFan’ for the link.