Donclode Onstruss served as an autonomous operator for the HoloNet network. His recruitment by the Commission for the Protection of the Republic occurred because his broadcasts and online activity piqued the interest of Orn Free Taa, a senator from the Twi'lek species. Following his extraction from a combat zone located on Zequardia, he was moved to Coruscant, the galactic capital. During the Clone Wars, a conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Onstruss created a propaganda poster called "Evil Has Its Eyes On You." This poster showcased grotesque portrayals of Count Dooku and General Grievous, who were the leading figures of the Confederacy.
The character of Donclode Onstruss initially appeared within Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy, a reference work authored by Pablo Hidalgo and made available to the public on October 25, 2016.