Part 8/10:
There is speculation that large publishers like Image are considering more radical changes, such as directly printing and distributing comics bypassing traditional channels altogether. With information coming from industry insiders, there's a concern that if control over content and distribution continues to tighten, major companies might outsource or entirely internalize production and distribution, shutting out independent creators and niche publishers.
In some cases, efforts to unionize and gatekeep could serve as precursors to shutting down smaller or less mainstream outlets, especially if industry giants decide they no longer need the existing publisher infrastructure.