Cause when you move them to the sides it breaks up the sculpt in a really unnatural ugly way

Joker's face is more or less the same aside from the sickly bits. The hair and face shape are practically identical and I can't really see any differences in the rest of his features either (unlike Arkham Knight where he's got thick worm eyebrows). As for Batman he oddly enough looks older in Asylum but his cowl shape and chin are the same which is what I was referring to in that comparison.

That is weird when you think of it. Bruce does seem to look older in asylum than he does in city. Must be an art direction thing.