The Clone Wars: Prelude is a seven-page webcomic and the inaugural piece in the The Clone Wars webcomic series, released on StarWars.com on October 2, 2008. "Prelude" serves as a direct lead-in to "Ambush," which is the debut episode of the The Clone Wars television series. Pablo Hidalgo penned the webcomic, Thomas Hodges handled the illustrations and colors, and Grant Gould was responsible for the lettering. "Prelude" centers on clone shock troopers known as Rys and Jek as they prepare for their upcoming mission: accompanying Jedi Master Yoda to a diplomatic meeting with King Katuunko of Toydaria. Furthermore, the comic depicts a conversation via hologram between Republic Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and Katuunko, which establishes the context for the meeting between Yoda and Katuunko. It also portrays Count Dooku touring the Confederacy's new listening post, Skytop Station.
Rys and Jek, two clone shock troopers belonging to the Grand Army of the Republic, are relaxing at the Republic Service Organization center on Coruscant, the Republic's capital world. As Jek repairs his blaster rifle, Rys observes several Star Destroyers departing from the adjacent drydocks, noting the departure of the Laudable under the command of General Ares Nune. Rys starts complaining about being stationed on Coruscant and being assigned as bodyguards to senators. He voices his opinion that they should be on the front lines of the war between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, fighting alongside their clone brothers. Jek responds by stating that they were created to serve the Republic and must go where they are needed, which is currently Coruscant.
Simultaneously, on Ruusan 2, a moon located deep within Confederate territory, Count Dooku, the leader of the Separatists, is inspecting the Confederacy's newly constructed listening post, Skytop Station, which is in low orbit above the moon. Dooku is accompanied by his apprentice Asajj Ventress, and they are given a tour by Po Nudo, a member of the Separatist Council whose corporation was responsible for building the space station. Nudo declares that Skytop Station can intercept nearly any HoloNet transmission and is the most advanced listening post in the sector. While Ventress finds the station unimpressive and perceives it as a cowardly endeavor, Dooku is pleased with it and hopes that it will prove fruitful.
At the same time, King Katuunko of Toydaria is aboard his personal yacht when he is contacted via hologram by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine of the Republic. Palpatine wishes to arrange a meeting for negotiations regarding Toydaria joining the Republic, which would allow the Republic to use Toydaria as a staging area for the war. Katuunko declines to meet on a Republic cruiser filled with clones and instead insists on negotiating with a Jedi, as he has never met one. Palpatine argues that sending an unarmed Jedi to a world as close to Separatist territory as Toydaria would be risky, so Katuunko proposes meeting on the neutral coral moon Rugosa in three days.
Back on Coruscant, Rys continues to observe Star Destroyers departing, including the Brassbound, while Jek inspects his new Z-6 rotary blaster cannon. Lieutenant Thire, Rys's and Jek's commanding officer, enters the room and informs them that they have been reassigned to a different mission. Pleased by this news, Rys asks Thire about their new task as the three clone troopers leave the room. Thire tells them that they are to escort a Jedi on a diplomatic mission to the Outer Rim. They approach a waiting gunship, where Jedi Grand Master Yoda awaits.
"The Clone Wars: Prelude" is a seven-page webcomic within The Clone Wars webcomic series that connects to the television series of the same name. "Prelude" directly precedes "Ambush," the inaugural episode of The Clone Wars television series. The webcomic elucidates the reason why Rugosa was selected for negotiations between the Republic and Toydaria, which was subsequently depicted in the episode, and the rationale behind choosing Yoda as the diplomatic envoy. In "Ambush", Yoda and his clone bodyguards are attacked by Ventress and a large droid army after the Confederates, utilizing Skytop Station, successfully intercept the holographic message between Palpatine and Katuunko that is shown in "Prelude".
"Prelude" was released on StarWars.com on October 2, 2008. Pablo Hidalgo wrote it, Thomas Hodges created the artwork and colors, and Grant Gould handled the lettering. Special acknowledgments were also given to Leland Chee, the curator of the Holocron continuity database; Sue Rostoni, the executive editor at Lucas Licensing; and Dave Filoni, the supervising director of The Clone Wars TV series. "Prelude" shares its cover with Shakedown, the second entry in The Clone Wars webcomic series. According to the 2010 Star Wars Annual 2011, "Prelude", along with other specific The Clone Wars events, occurs in the year 21 BBY.
"Ambush" was initially not intended to be the first episode aired until shortly before the series premiere. Therefore, when its position was changed, artist Tom Hodges, who was scheduled to create the accompanying webcomic, was already working on Shakedown. Despite the significant pressure, he managed to finish both comics in time for the premiere.
The women depicted serving drinks to the clone troopers in the background of the Republic Service Organization center in the webcomic were later retconned to be members of the Republic Service Organization. This organization was inspired by the real-world Imperial Service Organization, a social network of volunteers dedicated to supporting charitable organizations like the 501st Legion in their activities.
Several characters who are not present in "Prelude" are featured on the comic's cover. These characters include Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, Padawan Ahsoka Tano, Commander CC-2224, and Captain CT-7567.