To be fair, Ryan Stegman started it.

I don't want to sound too cocky but this venom comic we are making is way better than Watchmen — ryan stegman (@RyanStegman) April 9, 2018

Many people have been upset by my inflammatory tweet RE: our new venom series being better than watchmen. Let me clarify: I am just trying to say it's the best comic ever produced and will never be topped — ryan stegman (@RyanStegman) April 9, 2018

People doubt me when I say that our new Venom series is better than Watchmen, but those same people forget: Watchmen didn't even have Venom in it, so how good could it really have been — ryan stegman (@RyanStegman) April 18, 2018

But he wasn't going to let it go.

RETAILERS: are the rumors true that you are giving away watchmen to customers on this FCBD to clear shelf space for Venom 1? And if so, are fans upset that they were given an inferior product to venom 1? Sound off in the replies — ryan stegman (@RyanStegman) May 5, 2018

And soon everyone joined in.

Hey @RyanStegman I found an economical way to repurpose mu copy of Watchmen now that I brought home #Venom no. 1 💩 pic.twitter.com/vVfB8h3KFH — Ryan Edwards (@RyanEdwards_Art) May 9, 2018

People still out here reading Watchmen when Venom #1 by Cates just dropped? Wild pic.twitter.com/gYWd8sw9fi — Immortal Ken (@ShadowCoon_) May 9, 2018

Guys the new Venom comic by @Doncates & @RyanStegman is not only better than Watchmen, it sets a new peak for American literature. surpassing Catcher, Gatsby, Huck Finn, A Farewell to Arms, Slaughterhouse 5, Ready Player One & Harry Potters pic.twitter.com/80ANyG48OW — Cody Blaine (@Factzilla) May 12, 2018

Thanks for the advice! Also Venom>watchmen, I'd burn my copy of watchmen if I had one — Kainey Po0o (@KaineyPo0o) June 2, 2018

Venom is so good I want to build a time machine to go back in time and stop past me from even considering buying Watchmen. — Matt (@mattpavleshyn) June 6, 2018

And then, suddenly, a second issue is out — of Venom of course, not Watchmen.

Hey @RyanStegman are there any books out this next week I should check out? — DONNY CATES (@Doncates) June 10, 2018

Donny, great question, thank you for asking. For casual fans I would recommend Venom #2. For hardcore fans I would recommend Venom #2. For everybody else, Venom #2. For little idiot babies I would suggest anything by @zdarsky. https://t.co/bc9Zg0qC3h — ryan stegman (@RyanStegman) June 11, 2018

Thanks for the information, Ryan. I've never heard of this Chips S'snarky. I'll maybe check him or her out. Anyway, this Venom book. Is that the one I keep hearing about that is not as good as Watchmen? https://t.co/KGFRulhj5y — DONNY CATES (@Doncates) June 11, 2018

It's funny that you ask, because it is a common misconception that Venom is not as good as Watchmen. But the truth is, Venom is much better than Watchmen, and Watchmen is actually trash now. https://t.co/vkdEulrpXp — ryan stegman (@RyanStegman) June 11, 2018

Oh! I see. Yes, this sounds more like the truth to me. I've been seeing quite a lot of copies of Watchmen in trash bins around town. This Venom book must be why. I'm going to ask my local comic book seller to order me ONE MILLION COPIES. https://t.co/HgyMBZlywe — DONNY CATES (@Doncates) June 11, 2018

Well, it seems to have worked for Mark Millar. But clearly I had to get involved.

look, I'll go along with this as long as you run an in-depth article on how amazing and game-changing Venom is. Deal? — DONNY CATES (@Doncates) June 11, 2018

Is that what we are doing right now?

But the game was off…

Leaked spoilers for Venom 2 out this Wednesday! @RyanStegman @Doncates can you confirm??? pic.twitter.com/fZK0WviDjv — Ultimate Comics (@UltimateComics) June 11, 2018

I feel like the recent wave of machismo rolling through comic books ("Venom is better than Watchmen", etc) can be traced back to @aubreysitterson's "The Crown Jewel Of The Hasbro Universe" run on G.I. JOE. I love it. Real life should be as close to Pro Wrestling as possible. — Ξric M. Ξsquivel (@ericMesquivel) June 11, 2018

Remember, Alan Moore doesn't have a copy of Watchmen in his house. But will Donny Cates or Ryan Stegman send him an issue of Venom? Here's a look ahead at issue 2… by Donny Cates, Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles.

A symbiote in every emergency room, stat. You know, that's kinda what Doctor Manhattan does as well…