Worms were never a popular figure. They got an oversized bit of attention for their helmet antenna that was often missing. But, even as this piece started to get pricey, no one really cared much about the Worm. For most collectors, he was a checkmark on a list. A few guys might have had three or four to man their Maggot. But, even a setup like this was somewhat rare. Hasbro had the mold for the Worms in the 2000's and used it on the 2005 Convention General Mayhem figure. And, while this figure was well regarded in its day, the mold's use didn't lead to calls for a new Worms figure repaint. The Worm was just one of those unheralded gems from the line's middle years of whom most collectors were aware, but few cared about in any material way.
This made it all the more surprising when, in the early 2020's, Black Major announced the Worms figure was going to be one of his next releases. The choice to use the Worm wasn't met with disdain. For most collectors, it was an interesting idea that might have some merit. And, by this time, Cobra Troopers, Vipers, Crimson Guards, Alley Vipers, Night Vipers, Snow Serpents and Eels had all been made by factory custom producers. With the heavy hitters mostly covered, looking to more obscure molds made sense. The colors were announced, the figures were produced and, with little initial fanfare, Black Major made what are likely his best overall figures, ever.
Factory custom makers have struggled to get good color matches with vintage figures. The Cobra Blue colors don't match up. The Action Force greens are always a bit too light or a bit too dark. The red and crimson used for Red Shadows and Crimson Guard figures is always just a little off. But, the blue on this Worm figure is spot on. It is a deep, rich color. While not a perfect match for the 1982 Cobra figures, it's a color that matches up with Cobra in a way the lighter blues you often see on factory customs doe not. The most noticeable aspect of the color, though, is that this figure is done in a dull, flat tone of plastic. It's a stark difference from the glossier plastic you see on most factory customs. It allows this Worm to blend in with vintage figures in a more seamless way.
When I was a kid, the Worms figure became a high ranking Cobra who was just below a named official. He was above all the various Troopers and Vipers and would confer directly with the named Cobras. He's assist them in planning and then convey the orders to the troops. I don't recall if he was loyal to the militaristic Cobras or the conniving character portrayed by the Sea Slug. (I suspect the Sea Slug. The only evidence I have is a photo from 2001 on the Flying Scorpion figure where I set up my Cobra hierarchy and the Worm stands behind the Sea Slug.) But, the Worms figure took on more prominence than the simply commander of a mid run Cobra vehicle should have.
One think I've realized of late is that I've lost a lot of the characters that I made up during my various Joe runs. 30 years of seeing photos and stories arranged with "canonical" toy appearances has stripped away some of the uniqueness of my Cobra setup. Another part, though, is that army building turned once essential figures like this Worm into just another nameless, faceless Cobra whose sole duty was a singular task. Even the vaunted Sea Slug is now just an army builder who often wears Techno Viper gear.
I suppose this is a function of age. And, it was always difficult to explain why I had certain figures in distinct scenarios as their appearance made no sense without the years of context from my childhood play. On some level, I feel I've lost some of the wonder around the toys. Their value came form the stories they could tell, the emotions they could express and the pure wonder of exploring the human condition that could offer. Now, I don't spend my time attaching such functions to my Joes. They are collectibles that I take outside for photographs. I'm not sure I would even be able to piece together a play session. And, that loss is something I do lament. While the horrible reality that is today's world plays out, it would be good to hold on to a piece of innocence.
While I love this blue Worm, the truth is that he makes for a much better army builder than I could justify turning into a character. Despite having just the one version, I can only see him as an artillery or vehicle commander. It's not a bad role. And, it does allow the Worm to be used on a multitude of Cobra vehicles. I just can't see him as that ambitious character, any longer. Now, he's one of many Cobra specialists who wear uniforms colored to their environment or to match their vehicle of choice. It makes for better photos. But, I'm not sure it's a better story.
With this figure in hand, it become more apparent that Hasbro's inability to ever repaint the Maggot in a meaningful way (that terrible Night Force version doesn't really count...) was a mistake. It's likely Hasbro had the mold in the 2000's. But, cheap vintage Maggots and collector disinterest killed any calls for a repaint. But, in Cobra blue, grey, black or white, the Maggot would have been an amazing update to the line. Had it included a driver, that might have cost the chance at these Black Major Worms. But, with the new colorways in hand, I find myself really wanting a matching colored Maggot to augment these figures and really showcase their panache.
The original selling point on the Worms figures is that they were, actually, three figures in one. Each Worm included an alternate Torso and heads. One head was based on the 1993 Cobra Commander. The Worms has always had a bit of a regal look. And, the medals and formality of the mold are a perfect match for Cobra Commander's character. So, including the Commander head was a smart move. The other pieces included were a Wild Weasel torso and a caucasian Doc head. This setup also included an Aero Viper helmet and creates an interesting Air Viper figure. I might hold the Air Viper configuration in the highest regard of the three possible combos. It's a weird parts combination that you really don't see used at all, any more. But, it really works. At some point, I'll do a write up on that, specific, character, though.
The Worms accessory complement was weird. There's no other way to say it. The good part is that each figure included the Worms helmet with an antennae. On this figure, the helmet is blue and the antennae is black. The two tone color really adds to the overall look of the figure. It makes the antennae more prominent and showcases it's addition to the helmet. The helmet is a perfect fit and is one of better add on pieces you'll find in all the factory custom libraries. Where the figure gets bizarre is the weapon choices. The best piece is a 1988 Iron Grenadier Uzi. This weapon is overly large. But, it's the only piece that makes any sense for the figure.
He also includes a knife. It's a solid sculpt, but has a large, round handle that makes it tough for any figure to hold. There is a small pistol. I am not aware of the origin of the knife or pistol molds. They might be from Anniversary era figures. This small pistol lacks details. It's...fine for the Worm. But, it's small and not that cool. The final, most offbeat weapon is the main body of the 1983 Airborne Rifle. Gone, though, are the stock and the muzzle with bayonet. The weapon looks like a toy M-16 you got when you were 7 and promptly broke into three pieces. Beyond the absurdity of the weapon choice, it doesn't really fit in the figure's hands. If you find a figure with just the helmet and antennae, it's worth picking up because the rest of the gear isn't great.
The upside is that, in addition to this blue figure, there are a variety of Worms colors to track down. There are arctic Worms that are a perfect match for the Wolf. There is an all black version that is the only figure in that color scheme that's worth owning. Really, it's amazing. Then, there's Crimson, Red Shadows, Python Patrol (which, again, is better than it has any right to be), Desert, for some reason...Tiger Force, a grey cammo version and an Air Viper color scheme. There might be more, too. But, you have Worms for all seasons and all of them are of high quality in terms of tight joints, paint applications and overall construction. And, you can now have a Worms commanding every vehicle in your Cobra armory, should you so choose.
The Worms figures have gotten a lot harder to track down, these days. Either their production run was shorter than more traditional army builders or, more collectors simply held on to the figures due to their overall quality. If you can find the figures, the various colors will run you between $15 and $35 with the more desirable colors going at the top end. Usually, these figures will also not include the parts for the Air Viper or the Cobra Commander. So, you're not even getting the complete package. I'll argue that this figure is worth it. The quality is excellent and the colors just pop. This blue Worms gives you a chance to upgrade your Cobra command structure with a new figure. Or, just build out your mechanized army. Either way, it's a solid figure and one of those under the radar releases that has no business being this good.
