Rolling Stone described "Hero" as an outcast anthem, which focuses on frontman
Rivers Cuomo's feelings of inadequacy. The band described the song as for "the stay at home dreamers, the zoom graduators, the sourdough bakers, and the essential workers". Following the style of
Van Weezers return to the band's roots in
hard rock, "Hero" has been described musically as an upbeat Weezer song with heavy guitar usage.
Spin described it as "a dose of
power pop". On July 30, the band released an alternate version of the song titled "Hero (Piano)", arranged as a piano ballad. ==Music video==