Gordon's successor as commissioner, Captain Ellen Yindel, declares Batman a wanted criminal for his vigilante activities. Batman's return stimulates Joker to awaken from catatonia at Arkham Asylum. Joker manipulates his caretakers to allow him onto a television talk show, where he murders everyone with laughing gas and escapes. Batman and Robin (Kelley) track him to a county fair while evading a police pursuit. Batman defeats Joker in a bloody confrontation which ends with Batman paralyzing Joker. Disappointed with Batman's refusal to kill him, Joker uses the last of his strength to break his own neck. After another confrontation with the Gotham police, Batman escapes with Robin and a citywide manhunt begins.