It's Christmas week in Gotham. Trying to deal with the death of Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne continues his fight against crime in Gotham, while dealing with the Black Mask and Carmine Falcone gangs, while also trying to elect the mayor candidate Harvey Dent, who is together with his wife, being constantly threatened by Falcone. But things get worse when psychiatrist Harleen Quinzel has a psychotic break and helps the Joker escape Arkham.
Bruce is 37 years old and has been Batman for ten years.
Dick Grayson is already Nightwing and is in Bludhaven.
The events of Killing Joke have already happened.
Batman is wanted by the police, with Gordon as his only ally.
In a Mid-Credit Scene, Black Mask swears revenge on Batman for being responsible for sticking his mask to his face in a boiler.
In a post-credits scene, Doctor Jonathan Crane experiments with his fear gas on Arkham patients.
