User blog comment:Boyariffic/I just noticed something pretty weird/@comment-24152851-20140808015122/@comment-24781217-20140808023131

That's always been my theory. And maybe this is just me, but I think if they were trying to foreshadow Mal, they would have done a bit more than something so quick and so faint. I have to argue against your "Mike's hair, not Mal's" point, buddy. Let's say hypothetically that is Mal, it's possible the flipped down hair didn't come until later, and the figure behind Mike is his "rough" design.

Sorry, Boyariffic. It is interesting to speculate about, though, and if you want to headcanon it as Mal making his first appearance, go right ahead! We've tried to ask Julie about this but she never got back, maybe we should send it again.