Hairsplitter
- Hairsplitter is a Decepticon-allied Nebulan Targetmaster from the toyline portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
Nobody likes Hairsplitter (aka Shrute). 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.
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.
Generations
- Spinister (TFSS 4.0, 2016)
- Renamed "Shrute" (likely due to trademark reasons), this Combiner Wars version of Hairsplitter is a redeco of the Thrilling 30 Holepunch mold. He converts into a gun, and can combine with his buddy Singe to form a super-gun.
- He and Singe were packed in with Spinister, the third figure sent in the Figure Subscription Service 4.0.
=War For Cybertron: Siege
- Decepticon Phantomstrike Squadron (Voyager Class multipack, 2019)
- ID number: WFC-S27
- Japanese ID number: TBA
- Japanese release date: TBA
- Accessories: 2 "HPI Null-Ray Laser Launchers, Fracas Battle Master, Shrute Battle Master, Terror-Daxtyl Battle Master, 5 fire blasts
- Packed with Skywarp, Fracas, and Terror-Daxtyl, Shrute is a redeco of Aimless, a retool of Blowpipe. He transforms from robot to the "Manifold Ion Particle Blaster" and back. He includes two "Fire Blast" effect pieces that can be used to simulate his blaster mode firing, and can slot onto the various hardpoints found on other figures and weaponry from the same subline to simulate blaster fire or explosions. The actual gun barrel piece can detach from the back, revealing a 3 mm peg, and connect to his arm like a cannon.
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.[citation needed]
- A pencil-pushing petty bureaucrat office drone named "Shrute"? Sounds vaguely familiar...
