Nothing is known of Herbert Hynde prior to his appearance in Gotham City in the winter of 1983,  Whether this was the first place he had conducted such operations is unclear. Ensconced in the depth of Gotham's sewers, Hynde set up a human trafficking operation obtaining children for unidentified sellers.  In November of 1983, one of his procurements was intercepted by the Huntress, news of which was returned to Hynde by one of his runners.  Disappointed by the news, the Earthworm seemingly directed a series of rats that were in his company to devour the runner alive.

Threatened by the Huntress, Hynde cultivated a relationship with Terry Marsh, a local personality whom he worked to discredit the heroine, thereby minimizing her interference in his operations.  In the meantime, the Huntress had returned the rescued infant to a local pediatrician and learned that it was in withdrawal from heroin. Knowing the area most notorious for the drug trade in Gotham, the Huntress began to understand the scope of the Earthworm's operation.  Targeting junkie couple, knowing their predilection of accidental pregnancy, he traded their infants for just enough cash to get their next fix.

The Huntress finds the Earthworm and follows him into his sewers but he has vanished, leaving a trio of hungry alligators for her to fend off.  Escaping, she returns to the surface only to find that Terry Marsh has inflamed public opinion against her as a "reckless vigilante" and she must fight crowds of protesters before escaping. 

Piecing together clues, the Huntress links the Earthworm to Marsh and confronts him, allowing her to learn his location.  After making short work of his henchman and fending off another horde of rats, the Huntress confronts the Earthworm, only to find he has slipped between impossibly tight bars.  Taunting her, he disappears into the sewers and escapes (Wonder Woman #309-313).

A number of unknown encircle the Earthworm.  His true nature and origins have not been revealed.  Who the recipients of his stolen children were have never been identified.  And whether he was captured and brought to justice on Earth-Two remains unknown.