Although he eluded the authorities for a while, the Joker eventually started a new killing streak to once again get the attention of the Batman. Coming into contact with the Dollmaker, the Joker made a plan to try and take down the Batman Family. Getting the Dollmaker to cut off his face, the Joker faded into obscurity and was presumed dead for a whole year. However, in reality, he began putting together traps that either recreated his old crimes or turned Arkham Asylum into an impenetrable fortress. The Joker also reformed his crew by using the guards solely from Arkham. After spying on the GCPD, the Joker decided to "Put on a Happy Face" and struck against the Batman by slaughtering several police officers and strapping his face on his skull as a mask. Terrorizing the entire Batman Family, the Joker's plan eventually went awry and he ended up plummeting down the depths of the Batcave.