Zelensky looks like a hero, but mostly because of who he is being compared to.
Since the Cold War leaders around the western world have been incredibly weak. Willing to bend at every oppotunity.
When Zelensky is compared to Biden, Kamala, Boris, and Macron, Trudeau, he looks like a hero.
If he was in power in an earlier era he would be measured against Reagan, Thatcher, de Gaulle, and Trudeau Sr. He would no longer look like a hero. He would look like any other national leader doing his job.
That's a good point.