In comic books for artistic reasons should a hero or villain have a cape!  Some costumes look weird without the cape.  Superman for instance would look out of place without the cape, but it would look odd to see nightwing in a caped costume.  :)

Variants are fine to a degree, but it is ridiculous to have more than maybe 5 variants to the same comic.  Plus a variant should be something different instead of the infamous holofoil, ruby red, and shiny blue title some publishers like to dish out to the public.  Atleast have the covers look different not just the title of the comic being "shiny".  I can't stand the reprinted comics,  same old issue brand new cover re-released months later.