In the Marvel comic books, Colleen Wing is the best friend and crime fighting partner of Misty Knight. Knight, portrayed by Simone Missick, is a main character in Luke Cage (2016), The Defenders (2017), and Season 2 of this show.
In the comics, Ward Meachum (Tom Pelphrey) is the uncle of Joy Meachum (Jessica Stroup), but in the series they are brother and sister.
The "Iron Fist" comic book series was originally inspired by the success of the "Kung Fu (1972)" television series. The hidden land of K'un L'un was inspired by various stories, including James Hilton's "Lost Horizon" and tales of Tibet. Much of the original series was inspired by the Golden Age Centaur Comics character Amazing Man, who was a westerner who gained super abilities while studying in a hidden Tibet-like land. Amazing Man, as his civilian identity of John Aman, was added to "Iron Fist" continuity in the "Immortal Iron Fist" series.
Throughout the series, Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) says "Sweet Christmas", which is Luke Cage's catchphrase.
Despite the criticism of Danny Rand being played by a Caucasian actor, the Danny Rand in the comics was indeed Caucasian with blond hair and green eyes. Even so, the "Iron Fist" comics were inspired by Kung Fu (1972), wherein a white actor played a half-Chinese character.