Republican US senator Ted Cruz has been criticised online for an odd take about the "bad guys" in Marvel's Avengers, and the Alan Moore-created Watchmen comic series.

In a recent episode of his podcast, the Texan said it was "curious" how the villains in both series attempt to save the earth. “Have you noticed in how many movies how often rabid environmentalists are the bad guys?” he asked viewers. “Whether it’s Thanos [from Avengers: Endgame] or go to Watchmen. The view of the Left is people are a disease.”

HBO Watchmen writer/producer refuted Cruz's point on Twitter, saying: “Hi, @SenTedCruz, Watchmen writer/producer here. Literally what the fuck are you talking about?”

Hi, @SenTedCruz, Watchmen writer/producer here. Literally what the fuck are you talking about? https://t.co/9s9nqHcPke

— Lila Byock (@LByock) February 2, 2021

Uproxx writer Josh Kurp noted: "Cruz, who once named Rorscach as one of five favorite superheroes (meaning he missed the point of Watchmen), should check out the HBO series, which tackles systemic racism, police brutality, and white supremacists. He could learn something."

Parker Molloy said: "This...doesn't even make sense? Setting aside that Watchmen has nothing to do with environmentalism, if the view of "the left" was that "people are a disease," then...wouldn't those be the protagonists?"

This... doesn’t even make sense? Setting aside that Watchmen has nothing to do with environmentalism, if the view of ”the left” was that “people are a disease,” then... wouldn’t those be the protagonists? https://t.co/myQzmjQQU8

— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) February 2, 2021

this is so incomprehensible in every possible way that I feel like it has created a black hole in my brain https://t.co/QXW3TZQd9z

— Jack Saint, professional (@LackingSaint) February 2, 2021

The senator recently earned the ire of Canadian actor and comedian Seth Rogen on Twitter, after he made another confusing comment about Biden's decision to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. On Twitter, Cruz wrote: “he’s more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh. This agreement will do little to affect the climate and will harm the livelihoods of Americans.”

By rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, President Biden indicates he’s more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh. This agreement will do little to affect the climate and will harm the livelihoods of Americans.

— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 20, 2021

Yesterday (February 2), Rogen tweeted: "Let's not focus on the fact that Ted Cruz doesn't understand movies and focus more on the fact that he inspired a deadly insurrection by perpetuating lies about mass voter fraud", referring to the role Cruz played inciting violence at the US Capitol buildings on January 6th, before President Joe Biden was sworn in on January 20th.

Let’s not focus on the fact that @tedcruz doesn’t understand movies and focus more on the fact that he inspired a deadly insurrection by perpetuating lies about mass voter fraud.

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) February 2, 2021