comics-before-the-dawn
Art from the "Before the Dawn," the online comic prequel to "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." Fox

Ahead of the release of "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," which is due to hit theaters next year, Fox pictures released a prequel to that film as an online comic.

"Before the Dawn" is the online comic that tells the story of what happens after the end of 2011's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (which itself was a prequel) but before the new film, which is due out next summer, takes place.

The online comic's story follows Caesar, an extremely intelligent monkey, as he attempts to form a society of apes away from humankind.

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" will star Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell and Judy Greer, according to Digital Spy.

The movie will follow a conflict between the apes' society and humans, who want to remain the planet's dominant species.

The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 18, 2014.

Watch the trailer for "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" below: