By definition: A hero is <em>"a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities"</em>.
It is pretty much how all heroes are portrayed and we can see by using some examples. Odysseus is a typical hero: brave and adventurous with a lot to overcome. Batman can be seen as the same, risking his own life to save others since he is the only one with resources to do what he does. Typically, heroes are physically powerful. Even Othello is described as a large man. In the end, they should all teaches us something about bravery, altruist, overcoming obstacles, trust, and other things.
So in the end, the heroes are depicted as exemples of bravery, or a win over adversity that in the end, most likely teach us a lesson related to the challenge that they have faced.