[j. d. worthington]

Might it have been the "Cody Starbuck" by Howard V. Chaykin, done into book form? These were originally serialized in Star*Reach and, I think, later collected together into a graphic novel. The mention of Heavy Metal also calls to mind Druillet's adaptation of Salammbo to a science-fictional format; and both would have been around this time. Howard Chaykin's work is almost minimalist, whilst Druillet's is extremely detailed (some feel too much so); so if it's one of these, knowing whether the art was simple or almost cluttered with (as Moorcock says) "exotic buttons and bows" might help you to decide which one.