Silencer (G1)

Silencer is a Nebulan Targetmaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Ninjas and Mennonites are equally silent, but are they equally deadly?

Silencer is a recovering pacifist. He once lived the quiet traditional life of a hydroponic farmer, disavowing violence for any reason... until the Decepticons led by Scorponok destroyed his family's farm. His entire world and that way of life was destroyed along with it. Now one of the Autobots' best warriors, he is capable of transforming into a noiseless, recoil-less proton rifle.

Silencer and his fellow Nebulan Flintlock try to force their Autobot partner, the slovenly Landfill, to clean himself regularly, but they avoid him when he forgets and the stink becomes too much. This can leave them all vulnerable in the event of a surprise attack.

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Landfill wielded Flintlock and Silencer in "double weapon" mode during a series of fuel raids on Cybertron alongside the recently revived Grimlock, Jazz and Bumblebee. Yesterday's Heroes! When Hook, Line, and Sinker attacked some months later, Flintlock, Silencer and the other Nebulan "double" Targetmasters appeared absent. Surrender!

The Transformers cartoon

Blasted time-travel experiments.

Many millions of years ago, on the planet Cybertron, life existed. But not life as we know it today. Intelligent robots that could think and feel inhabited the cities. Apparently among those robots were the Autobots Landfill, Quickmix, and Scoop, as well as their Targetmaster partners (including Silencer), who transformed from their vehicle modes and shot at some unknown attackers. G2: MTMTE, Part 1

Footage from the commercial featuring the Autobot "Double Targetmaster" trio was spliced into the Generation 2 version of the episode by way of the Cybernet Space Cube. Outside of this, the only other "appearance" by the Double Targetmasters in The Transformers was reuse of this commercial animation in the season 5 title sequence.

Toys

Generation 1

• Landfill (Targetmaster, 1988)

Silencer, like all the "double" Targetmaster Nebulans, is one of the smallest and least complicated Transformers. Fold the barrel away, and stand him up. He can also combine with Flintlock (or any other Targetmaster) to form a super-rifle thanks to a 5mm socket on his back (which also makes him compatible with Mini-Con Powerlinx plugs). He was only available with his larger partner Landfill and fellow Nebulan Flintlock.

No version of this character or mold was released in Japan.

• More information on Silencer (via Landfill) on TFU.info

Notes

• It's unclear if Silencer's shoulder-mounted systems are defensive weapons, or part of his recoil-and-sound dampening system.