What do Bambi and Wolverine have in common? If all goes according to plan, they’ll both soon be part of the Disney family. According to The Wall Street Journal‘s Market Watch website, the deal, which was announced today, involves a stock and cash transaction that would see Marvel shareholders receive $30 per share plus “approximately 0.745” Disney shares for each Marvel share held. The price for the entire deal is in the neighbourhood of $4 billion U.S.

From Market Watch:

“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company.

The deal brings Disney one step closer to complete world domination. Future crossover issues of Marvel comics will likely feature Mickey Mouse in a fight to the death with Magneto and Dr. Doom, and the Fantastic Four joining the X-Men in a rousing rendition of “It’s a Small World.”