The story is set 7 years after the death of the Joker and Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake have just defeated Harley Quinn. Crime has spread beyond Gotham City following the Joker's death and Arkham City remains operational under the backing of a set of anonymous investors. While Batman finds himself the target of an ancient sinister conspiracy to control Gotham, he is caught in an all-out war between the city and a criminal insurgency led by the vengeful Red Hood.