This article uses material from the “Painwheel” article on the Skullgirls Wiki at FANDOM is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License.
Painwheel, whom's real name is Carol, is a playable character from the Skullgirls game.
Once, she was a normal schoolgirl named Carol, who was kidnapped by Valentine and delivered to the Anti-Skullgirls Labs’ secretive Lab Zero. There she was implanted with the synthetic Buer Drive and Gae Bolga Matrix parasites and infused with experimental Skullgirl blood, transforming her into the monster she is today. Violent and unstable as a result of these experiments, as a precaution she’s mentally controlled by Lab Zero’s powerful psychic director, Brain Drain. Fueled by rage, she draws her power from her pain and fury. Despite that, the soul of that scared young girl still lives on inside this monstrous body, desperately fighting off the onslaught of voices that would control her.
In the XP4 fics, Carol debuted in XP4 Heroes Coalition - Kick-Off!.
In the AWA fics, Carol, going by the full name of Carol Painwheel, is a student at the AWA Academy.
Appearance[]
The blades attached to Painwheel's back bear a slight resemblance a Japanese shuriken throwing star, although their original design was closer to her namesake, the pinwheel.
It is unknown if the scars on Painwheel's face after removing her mask are permanent or not.
When Painwheel is being introduced to her new class (in Filia's ending), she is seen carrying a cello case. It is implied by Alex Ahad that the removable parts of Painwheel's Buer Drive are kept in here.
XP4 Fanfic[]
Carol's appearance is different. She has a mid-length brown hair and has red eyes, and her face has cross shaped scar with stitches. She wears a white collared uniform with a dark-blue necktie, dark-blue skirt, and brown shoes.
Personality[]
Painwheel's personality tends to be initially mistaken at first glance; by her appearance, she has the form of a monster and is expected to kill and bring harm under orders from Valentine, Brain Drain and her creators. However, it was revealed that Painwheel was able to keep control of her mind over Brain Drain and was able to think and behave for herself.
She has a powerful hatred for Valentine and ASG Labsand judging by her lists of dislikes she also dislikes people and her own body. This could be from a rough past of others bullying her about her appearance which would have resulted in low self-esteem, though another possibility is the monstrous transformation she's been put through.
Fueled by rage, she draws her power from her pain and fury. Despite that, the soul of that scared young girl still lives on inside this monstrous body, desperately fighting off the onslaught of voices that would control her.
Aside from all her hateful attributes Painwheel enjoys peaceful and beautiful things such as flowers, dogs and walking on a beach during the sunset. Painwheel underwent changes as revealed in Filia's ending as she was shown to be very positive and happy about starting over and getting a new lease on life (thanks to Filia's wish) overjoyed seeing her new class telling them it was a pleasure to meet them. Instead of living with her parents, she lives in the ASG Labs, where she is actually happy there. Afterwards Painwheel and Filia watch the sunset together. All in all, Painwheel is a very kind girl who just wants a normal life.
XP4 Fanfic[]
Carol is a member of the Heroes Coalitions and is part of the Death City Squad. She also attends at Vanguard Academy as a student.
XP4 Heroes Coalition - Kick-Off![]
In Chapter 9, Carol, alongside her team, the Death City Squad, are seen in a large desert taking on several gigantic Emotionless. After defeating the creatures, Death the Kid made an urgent order to head back to Neo-City after hearing that Donzerg Stronghold plans on painting the La Lopez Memorial Museum with rainbow paint in a zigzag pattern, much to Carol and everyone's bewilderment.
XP4 Heroes Coalition - Neo-City Diaries[]
In Chapter 29, Carol is present during Rhodey "Rhode Dogg" Dogglas' 'takeover' in Principal Danny Antonucci's office inside the Vanguard Academy and after everything is settled, she took part of Aty's class.
In Chapter 44, Carol, alongside the rest of the Death City Squad, welcomes Akamaru and Mata Frerichs for becoming an official member of the team.
XP4 Heroes Coalition - Remnant Chronicles[]
In Chapter 1, Carol, alongside the Death City Squad, Qrow Branwen, Jaune Arc, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie, arrives in Mistral. They later met up with Leonardo Lionheart at the Haven Academy where Qrow told him information about the Spring Maiden but Leonard delays going after her, much to their frustration. Later that night, everyone are seen at the living room of their house when Qrow, Death the Kid and Brook arrives and introduced Oscar Pine to everyone, Oscar then revealed that he's Ozpin, much to everyone's bewilderment.
In Chapter 2, Carol, alongside the Death City Squad, Qrow Branwen, Jaune Arc, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie, are seen inside their current residence somewhere in Mistral where they had a conversation about Oscar Pine being Ozpin. They then witnessed Ozpin taking over Oscar, reintroducing himself, telling them his plans to retrieve the Relic of Knowledge and decided to train Oscar alongside Ruby Rose, Jaune, Ren and Nora, much to everyone's confusion and bewilderment.
In Chapter 6, Carol, alongside her team, are seen in the living room in their residence somewhere in Mistral when Qrow Branwen, Kiba Inuzuka, Akamaru, Yang Xiao Long, Weiss Schnee, Ichika Orimura and Tomomichi Motoyama arrives. Carol and the others watches Ruby Rose reunited with Yang and Weiss, much to their joy.
In Chapter 7, Carol took part of a dinner get-together at the residence somewhere in Mistral. After Ichika Orimura and Tomomichi Motoyama left for another mission in Atlas, they had a conversation about their recent experiences, Ruby Rose, Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie & Lie Ren revealing their Gifts and Ruby & Jaune revealing that they're a couple, much to Weiss' shock and Yang's ire. Later in the living room, they were joined by Qrow Branwen, Oscar Pine and Ozpin, everyone are present when Ozpin explains to them about the magic he gave to Qrow & Raven Branwen and detailed that everyone had a choice. After that, everyone decided to keep moving forward and decided to enjoy the rest of the night.
In Chapter 8, Carol, alongside Eijiro Kirishima, are seen watching Brook playing his violin in the patio of their residence somewhere in Mistral when Mina Majikina arrives and handed them cups of coffees. They then noticed Yang Xiao Long leaving Weiss Schnee and Ruby Rose, they questioned what's wrong but Ruby reassured them that everything is fine.
In Chapter 10, Carol, alongside her team, Yang Xiao Long, Weiss Schnee, Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Nora Valkyrie, Qrow Branwen and Oscar Pine/Ozpin are seen gathered in their residence somewhere in Mistral. Qrow then got a call from Leonardo Lionheart and told them to meet them in school however, Shadow the Hedgehog revealed that an ambush awaits for them, much to everyone's shock. After that, they decided to counter their enemies with an ambush of their own.
In Chapter 11, Carol, alongside her team, Qrow Branwen, Nora Valkyrie, Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Yang Xiao Long, Weiss Schnee, Oscar Pine and a number of heroes from the Heroes Coalitions, arrives in Haven Academy and confronted Leonardo Lionheart, Cinder Fall's group, Raven Branwen and Vernal. Then both sides got into a battle with Carol taking on a number of Emotionless.
In Chapter 12, Carol took part in a battle at Haven Academy where she took down Emerald Sustrai from behind.
In Chapter 14, Carol, alongside everyone, are seen taking on Hazel Rainart, Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai but their enemies escaped after Emerald uses her semblance to create a large illusion of Salem. After the battle, everyone decided to regroup when Yang Xiao Long, Tatsumi Oga & Baby Bel, Ike, Prince Mufasa & Rey Dynamic and Ghira Belladonna, Kali Belladonna, Sun Wukong, Ilia Amitola, Alisa Ilinichina Amiella, Ciel Alencon and Nana Kozuki met up with everyone. They later witnessed the reunion of Team RWBY. In the aftermath montage, Carol, alongside Shadow the Hedgehog and Mina Majikina discovered Leonardo Lionheart's corpse in his office, much to their shock and confusion.
XP4 Heroes Coalition - Welcome to Herowood[]
In Chapter 8, Carol, alongside Ruby Rose, are seen having a picture with Yuugiri in the dining area of their hotel in Herowood.
Abilities[]
An "aerial dominance" character, Painwheel can fly using her Buer Drive blade and charge her attacks, as well as confronting foes with spikes that eject painfully from her body. She can also contort her body into inhuman shapes and unleash her rage with brutal moves. She can use the spikes to paralyze opponents or use them as projectiles as well as extend them in her attacks. Painwheel has armor in some of her attacks when charging them, allowing her to catch opponent off guard and counterattack.
With Hatred Install, Painwheel powers herself up with immense rage, which boosts her in-game abilities for the duration of the move. Not only is she capable of dealing additional damage, but the speed of her attacks and flight have increased as well. With the increased endurance of her armor, Painwheel is capable of persisting damage with even the smallest amount of health. Players can use it to their advantage to turn the tide of battle.
Trivia[]
- Painwheel's override code, 36E-25-40, is the exact same as Valentine's breast, waist, and hip measurements.
- Painwheel's "Valentine" color palette was not changed in the update that changed the color of all the crosses Valentine wears, due to the fact it does not consist of a red cross on a white background.
- In an unused alternate ending, Painwheel is swayed by the Skull Heart into wishing for freedom. The Skull Heart declares that she will be free from everything, including memory, reason and morals, and be "rage incarnate" as the next Skullgirl.
Gallery[]
