The Joker has been absent from Gotham City for over a year. The last time he was seen, the Joker was captured and sent to Arkham Asylum. But, getting captured was part of his plan. The Joker had a scheduled meeting with the villain known as Dollmaker, who was given permission to cut off the Joker's face by the clown, himself. Escaping the asylum without a face, Joker practically dropped off the face of the planet.
