Helix was a short-lived, science fiction and science fantasy imprint of DC Comics, launched in 1996 and discontinued in 1998. (In early promotional materials prior to the release of the first title, the imprint was called "Matrix" instead of Helix.) It featured a handful of ongoing monthly series, several limited series, and one short graphic novel. Despite the involvement of successful SF/fantasy novelists Michael Moorcock, Lucius Shepard and Christopher Hinz, and established comics creators Howard Chaykin, Elaine Lee, Matt Howarth, Warren Ellis, Walt Simonson, and Garth Ennis, sales of the comic books were low, and most of the ongoing series were cancelled after 12 or fewer issues. Ellis' Transmetropolitan was switched to the Vertigo imprint, where it continued for several more years before reaching its planned conclusion. Ennis' Bloody Mary mini-series and Michael Moorcock's Multiverse were later collected in Vertigo-label paperbacks. Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Science fantasy is a mixed genre of story which contains some science fiction and some fantasy elements. ... This article is about imprints in publishing. ... DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... Michael John Moorcock (born December 18, 1939, in London, England) is a prolific English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels. ... Lucius Shepard (born August 1947, Lynchburg, Virginia, though stories and articles published under his name from 1952-1955 in Collins Magazine indicate that he may be several years older than is officially claimed) is an American writer whose work transcends easy categorization. ... Christopher Hinz (born 1951) is an American writer best known for the Paratwa science fiction trilogy. ... Howard Victor Chaykin (born 1950 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American comic book writer and artist famous for his innovative storytelling and sometimes controversial material. ... Elaine Lee is an American actor, playwright, comic book colorist and comic book writer. ... Artist/cartoonist who created, among other things, Those Annoying Post Brothers and Savage Henry. ... This article is about the comic book author. ... Star Slammers graphic novel (1983) Walter or, usually, Walt Simonson (born September 2, 1946) is a comic book writer and artist. ... Garth Ennis (born January 16, 1970 in Holywood, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish comics writer, best known for the DC/Vertigo series Preacher, co-created with artist Steve Dillon. ... Transmetropolitan is a postcyberpunk comic book series written by Warren Ellis with art by Darick Robertson and published by DC Comics. ... Vertigo logo Vertigo is an imprint of comic book and graphic novel publisher DC Comics. ...

Limited availability of the books in bookstores that already sold science fiction, resistance among science-fiction readers to serialized monthly publication, the lower visibility of the line's deliberately muted cover color palette, and the lack of interest in genre SF among regular patrons of comic-book stores, were all cited by industry observers as factors in the imprint's demise.

Books published

• The Black Lamb - by Timothy Truman
• Bloody Mary and Bloody Mary: Lady Liberty - written by Garth Ennis, illustrated by Carlos Ezquerra
• BrainBanx - written by Elaine Lee, illustrated by Temujin
• Cyberella - written by Howard Chaykin, illustrated by Don Cameron
• The Dome: Ground Zero - written and laid out by Dave Gibbons, digitally rendered by Angus McKie
• Gemini Blood - written by Christopher Hinz, illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards
• Michael Moorcock's Multiverse - written by Michael Moorcock, illustrated by Walt Simonson, John Ridgway and Mark Reeve
• Sheva's War - by Christopher Moeller
• Star Crossed - by Matt Howarth
• Time Breakers - written by Rachel Pollack, illustrated by Chris Weston
• Transmetropolitan - written by Warren Ellis, illustrated by Darick Robertson
• Vermillion - written by Lucius Shepard, illustrated by Al Davison and Gary Erskine