Malcolm might not be much like the character in the Jessica Jones comic books who shares his name, but the pair definitely have similarities - they're both seen as thorns in her side, though clearly in different terms. It's more like that Ruben, the annoying, infatuated upstairs neighbour is more closely based on that side of the comic version of Malcolm. Though he doesn't seem to be anything like this comics counterpart there is a final gag in the last episode that suggests a parallel. In the final episode, Malcolm answers Jessica's phone, a frequent source of irritation in the comics when the other Malcolm does it. That can't be an accident. It's interesting to see Malcolm used as a means to explore addiction. Jones herself in the comics struggles with near-alcoholism to cope with her depression, and while it's seen as a recreational coping measure in the show it isn't dealt with in the same terms. So Malcolm fills that agenda.
