Death has a costumed mascot. A full-body costume that anyone can put on and play the role. Hooded robe, big old scythe ready to reap -- pretty un-hip compared to other costumed mascots, like say the Pittsburgh Pirates Parrot, Raider Red, or that Orange Bird for the Miami Heat. Heck even East Coast old-school MrMet is hipper than Death's mascot.
Death gets a lot of visibility, a lot of focus. Lots of movies and Metal bands are very into death. Some would say that religions cash in on our fear of death. Death is very popular. But it is just one brief moment of our life in the physical plane.
Why shouldn't other, longer and less popular phases of our lives have costumed mascots of their own ? Middle Age is not so popular, maybe it needs a mascot? It might be a character that looks kind of like Santa Claus but in the off season: round, jolly, thinning hair. Animals are popular mascots. Maybe Middle Age should be a house cat, a tabby who's naps are getting longer so the costume would have big sleepy eyes and the person inside could make the eye lids droop and the mouth yawn. ..but neither if those is very flattering for an already unpopular phase of life... how about:
Not cool enough? any suggestions?