The Marvel Comics villain Madam Masque is traveling back in time for Agent Carter.

As Agent Carter’s executive producers Tara Butters and Chris Dingess revealed, they are “co-opting” the modern-day villainess for Agent Carter’s 1940’s setting, and making her season two's main antagonist.

“I think we’ve changed the look of her a bit obviously. We’ve made her an actress, which is very Hedy Lamar,” Butters said. “She was a ‘40s siren actress who was also a scientific genius, so that’s part of what we’re mining with this character.”

A big reason that Agent Carter chose Madam Masque, according to the two, was her gender. Butters and Dingess said it was important that Agent Carter had a female villain to clash with this season, as it opened up several new storytelling opportunities and challenges for Peggy.

On explaining the importance of including a female villain, Butters told SlashFilm “…As much as there are not enough female heroes just on television, I feel like having a female villain is just as equally powerful.”

And by reimagining Madame Masque, who is traditionally a present-day Iron Man villain in the Marvel comics, as a Hollywood actress, Agent Carter had an easier time shifting the story to a California setting (as opposed to season one’s New York City locale).

Are you excited to see a retro take on Madam Masque in Agent Carter? Let us know in the comments!

Agent Carter premieres this winter on ABC, presumably during Agent’s of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s midseason break.