Hairsplitter

Hairsplitter is a Decepticon-allied Nebulan Targetmaster from the toyline portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

Nobody likes Hairsplitter. He's a pencil-pushing bureaucrat who gets his kicks by writing memos that point out the inefficiencies of others. Even though he's moved from the Nebulos Department of the Environment to the Decepticons, and changed job titles—from ecological efficiency expert to Targetmaster—he's the same nit-picking dink he always was. He remains precise in everything he does, from snitching on layabouts to searing his name on a microchip in laser rifle mode. Presumably, his partners Spinister and Singe hate him as much as his co-workers did.

Hairsplitter's nature varies. In some universes he is an organic Nebulan; in others he is a robotic Cybertronian.

Sometimes he is known as Shrute.

Commercial appearances

Spinister wielded both Hairsplitter and Singe in a battle against the three Autobot Double Targetmasters, firing them both wildly in their gun modes while chasing down his targets. Double Targetmasters commercial

Toys

Generation 1

• Spinister (Targetmaster, 1988)

Hairsplitter, like all the "double" Targetmaster Nebulans, is one of the smallest and least complicated Transformers; fold the barrel away, and stand him up. He was released with the Decepticon Spinister in 1988. No version of this character or mold was released in Japan.

• More information on Hairsplitter (with Spinister) at TFU.info::

Combiner Wars

• Spinister (2016)

Renamed "Shrute" (likely due to trademark reasons), he was released alongside Spinister, the 3rd figure sent in the Transformers Figure Subscription Service 4.0.

Notes

• Singe and Hairsplitter's images were swapped in More than Meets the Eye.
• Hairsplitter is the only Double Targetmaster to have a 'generic' recolor—a Mini-Con based on his character model appeared in Armada.
• A pencil-pushing petty bureaucrat office drone named "Shrute"? Sounds vaguely familiar...