It's the spirit of Gotham! Or rabies.

Maybe the spirit of Gotham is rabies, in today's book: from 1999, Batman: No Man's Land Secret Files #1, opening with "The Message" Written by Alisa Kwitney, pencils by Michael Zulli, inks by Vince Locke.

It's New Year's Eve in Gotham City, right on the eve of No Man's Land: at midnight, the federal government will blow the bridges, cutting off anyone who hasn't already evacuated. (Criminals, insane criminals, the stubborn, the delusional, the deeply impoverished, and so forth.)  Jason had waited to the last minute, but with only bats left in his building it was time to move on. Until he hears the voice of Gotham, telling him he must deliver a message to Gotham's guardian spirit.  The voice does save him from a falling sign, but tells him he can't leave until the message is delivered.

This of course leads to a little tour of Gotham's new status quo, visiting Oracle, the Penguin, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, and finally Huntress; before Jason succumbs to rabies. Then what saved him from the sign?  

"Assignment: Bruce Wayne"  is a bit more cheery, as a reporter racks up an epic expense account trying to chase down the missing Wayne.  ("A Day in the Life" Written by Chuck Dixon, pencils by Sal Velluto, inks by Bob Almond.) The last story, "No Man's Land: the Animated Series" could maybe fit into regular continuity, except for the framing device of a boy watching it on TV.  

Well, I don't think the Cassandra-Batgirl talked much at that point. Still, looks nice.