[positronic1]

The expression is one element, but that just can't counteract the basic character design, which is reinforced by the mouse vs. cat relationship. Super Mouse is just not a villain by his basic design; he's meant to look cute, despite whatever range of expression the artist is capable of applying within that -- while the cat (despite the worried, anxious expression) IS a villain, by design. You can read into it whatever malevolence you want, but I'm going to say that whatever is villainous or not is this drawing is subject to the context, not focusing on SM's eyes and ignoring the rest of the picture.

Link to the book: Supermouse 17