Stephen Kok, also known by his pseudonym Es Kay is a comic writer from Australia. I had the opportunity to speak with him and read his work. Like most creatives with a passion, there are some highs and lows to his resume. But the fact that each project develops further after one another shows a display of growth. With a Kickstarter for his latest project happening at the time of this post, now’s a good time to go over Es Kay’s progress.
Stephen Kok: An Early Investor
Before taking up the title of Es Kay, Stephen Kok begins with something simple. With Kickstarter becoming a great means for people to fund projects, he decides to work with some friends to get an idea out. Australia at this time doesn’t have any major platforms so this was mainly a learning experience. The graphic novella, Tabby is a simple story about a cat and his family living their lives. Along with a PG rated Romeo & Juliet style feud with another cat family. Given how cats are easy to monetize on the internet, nothing needs to be taken too seriously. Especially since this project is the first collaboration between Kok and artist P.R. Dedelis.
Pee Arh Dee Means Public Relations Department
Stephen Kok and P.R. Dedelis work on three titles including the above Tabby. 5 Seconds is a story where superpowers reach a down-to-earth story. No capes and costumes, just ideas about powers that are theoretically possible. All while regular people witness and make use of them. But again it’s not great power and responsibility story, it’s about self-discovery. Whenever someone finds out something about themselves it’s natural to want to better understand it. Like say finding out that you’re good at chess and want to make something out of it. It might not necessarily be for a career but just a hobby. Especially if this can lead to making friends with people already acquainted. That’s certainly the case with Es Kay, P.R., and their colorist Peyton Freeman.
The pair even go into another series called Word Smith. Es Kay being a writer knows that one word can cause big changes. Now imagine this in a fantasy steampunk setting. One word leads to a conflict, so another word needs to bridge the plot together. However, the power behind those themes would’ve benefited from a stronger foundation. Otherwise it looks like different plots mashing together without synergy. Which is why the second story focuses more on character and what the titular job means to this fantasy world. It’s not just the co-workers Stephen Kok listens to but his audience.
Stephen Kok Sharing Experiences
Some of Stephen Kok’s main audience members are his daughters. So all-ages stories he shares with them are a given. The best stories to share are usually inspired by real life. Blue is a simple story about adopting a dog and the struggles that come with bonding. My family actually helps pit bulls find owners, so I find this Australian Cattle Dog story to be endearing. Because what nurturing person doesn’t struggle with trying to bond to someone who has been through a lot? Yet it’s getting through these struggles that lead to long-term connections.
The Future Is In Communication
In my talk with Stephen Kok he mentions how he likes science fiction like that of Babylon 5 and how to apply it in a story. The research he goes into for comics like Terralympis actually comes from Reddit forums. As it turns out, just looking at research papers and encyclopedias can be kind of boring. Unlike enthusiasts who translate the more difficult terms into more manageable words. Everything on the titular intergalactic space station is the result of utilizing what these passionate people display. It’s also why the main characters are engineers rather than space explorers or marines.
The engineers know every nook and cranny of the station and equipment, making them ways of displaying the setting. This allows a natural means of exposition for readers, even if half of it is telling and not showing. It’s also what gives engineers power in the plot developing in the background. Because of their necessary capabilities, the engineers drive the plot forward, both as heroes and villains. Which isn’t to say they aren’t capable in a scuffle.
Self Awareness In Conflict
Stephen Kok is a fan of MMA with bouts he instills throughout some of his sci-fi series. It’s a small means of culture that Es Kay makes use of to show skills and communication. MMA has a reputation in developing communication, confidence, and leadership. So in conflicts where people divide and splinter, working out some issues is necessary. It’s also why MMA fighting makes appearances in Transhuman. Now the cyberpunk genre-defining question of what makes someone human is a very old one. It’s so frequent, there are three tropes on the subject of Transhumanism. At that point, it’s just a pointless debate that’s become cliche. The MMA action overshadowing the philosophy lectures acknowledges that humanity is ever present, even in spite of enhancements.
This doesn’t mean augmentations automatically make people better or worse, people are just flawed. No amount of faith or upgrades can fix someone. Communication in this case is key, whether between people or between the body and mind. Reaching the equilibrium just means making constant self-improvements despite how hard it is. Es Kay did meet Shaun Paulet through every attempt to improve; now he has a regular place to sell his comics in Comics2movies.
Stephen Kok: Worldwide
Coming from an American always looking for breakthroughs in sequential storytelling, I find Es Kay’s work great. Like all storytellers, he does not produce the best results but that’s okay. If everything creatives churn out turn out perfect, that would mean there’s nothing to actually share. Stephen Kok just likes how comics can connect him to people. Whether it’s making good friends, spending time with his family, or expressing his interests, he always does something with another person. Because the best comics are a labor of love from everyone involved.