How Irene Strychalski Built Fiendish — A Dark Fantasy World of Her Own

In this episode of Icon Presents, Antwon Haynes sits down with artist and storyteller Irene Strachoski, creator of the independent comic series Fiendish. Known for her detailed world-building and sharp visual storytelling, Irene shares how she went from working on Archer to creating a deeply immersive fantasy epic—complete with original languages, layered character arcs, and dark, myth-inspired themes. Irene opens up about the creative freedom and financial challenges of indie publishing, the thought process behind designing Fiendish’s cast of characters, and how she built the constructed language Nanasa. She also talks about the future of Fiendish—including the possibility of an anime adaptation—and gives her honest take on AI in art, calling for transparency and preserving the value of human creativity. Whether you're a comic creator, world-builder, or just love fantasy done right, this episode offers deep insight into the process and passion behind independent storytelling.