Panther Caroso

Panther in Star Fox Assault.
Panther Caroso
Species	Panther
Eye color	Black
Voiced by	David Scully (2005) Eric Newsome (2008)
Debut	Star Fox Assault

Panther Caroso is a recurring enemy who appears in the later Star Fox games as a part of Team Star Wolf. He is a pilot who was admitted into Team Star Wolf after Pigma Dengar and Andrew Oikonny had been kicked out. Although a skilled pilot, his flirtatious personality had a tendency to annoy his wingmates.

Background

Panther first battled the Star Fox team at Sargasso after Star Fox infiltrated the space station searching for Pigma in Star Fox Assault. Panther quickly became infatuated with Krystal, who became his rival in battle. However, as the Aparoid threat become more apparent, the Star Wolf team decided to aid the Star Fox team on Corneria. Panther continued to fly with the team, but also continued to flirt with Krystal as the opportunity presented itself. Afterwards, Star Wolf provided Star Fox backup two different times, including the battle on the Aparoid Homeworld. After the planet exploded, the Star Wolf team was nowhere to be found.

Some time afterwards, the Cornerian military put large bounties on the heads of the Star Wolf members. They began hiding out in their own base at Fichina to avoid suspicion. Panther also had a dream come true when he started dating Krystal, who had been forced to quit Star Fox after her relationship with Fox fell apart and was at the time working in the Cornerian Air Force.

In Star Fox Command, the Lylat System was being invaded by the Anglars. Star Wolf decided to attempt to destroy the Anglars themselves so that they would be seen as heroes for a change, and their bounties would be cleared. Panther and Leon soon split off from Wolf to pick up Krystal at Katina, as she was ready to join Star Wolf. However, Fox intervened and convinced Krystal to instead rejoin Star Fox. The Star Wolf members did not appear again in that storyline.

Possible Fates

Krystal stays with Panther and Star Wolf in Endings 3, 4 and 9 of "Star Fox Command" (although she eventually leaves in Ending 4). In all three of those endings the Star Wolf team are successful in their raids on Venom. They destroy the Anglar Emperor in all of these endings except for Ending 3, where he escapes into the Asteroid Belt, where Star Fox finishes him off. Fox does however promise Star Wolf that he would try to get their bounties cleared as compensation.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, Panther appears in several hidden conversations that can be reached in the Lylat Cruise level by Star Fox characters involving both Star Fox and Star Wolf members, as part of the level shows Wolfen fighters battling with Cornerian ships in the background. A trophy of Panther also appears in both games. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Panther appears as a Primary Spirit (represented by his artwork from Command) and will possess Wolf during a Spirit battle.

Trivia

• Command description: "A member of the Star Wolf squadron and a great pilot. Though a show-off and a lady's man, he often falls completely and faithfully in love."
• His surname seems to be based on the Spanish word "caluroso", which means "warm, hot, energetic, enthusiastic." This seems to reflect his passionate and flirtatious nature.
• His last name was spelled "Caruso" in Command, although that seems to be an oversight rather than a retcon, as all other sources (including the Super Smash Bros. trophies) used "Caroso" instead.
• He uses a red rose as his symbol, and his custom Wolfen fighter in Command is called the Black Rose.
• In Command, Panther's bounty was S$2000000, which was higher than Leon's but lower than Wolf's. This is interesting, considering that Leon is a more veteran member of Star Wolf and known as an assassin.