Harry The Rat Reject

In 2007 I was asked by Gary Groth at Fantagraphics to make the cover illustration for a new edition of Jules Feiffer's 1963 novel, "Harry the Rat with Women". Like I always do, I read the material first, in this case a short mid-century novel.

The above image is what I derived from the subject, with plenty of room for the book designer to do anything they wanted with the typography.

I was told that the art director hated it and it was rejected. I don't know if it was ever shown to Jules Feiffer. Nothing abnormal in this. It is just another day as a freelance illustrator. Upon seeing the cover that they actually used, I must admit that I thought mine would have been much stronger.