A hero must overcome obstacles (every blessed one of them). A hero is often different and on the outside of society (Spiderman, Robin Hood). Being a hero is not a course of action for the weak.
Some of the best campaigns I've played in (or run for that matter) pitched the group against overwhelming odds at first, the slow gains gathering momentum until the day of victory comes. In an SF campaign I ran the victory parade looked quite a bit like the last scene in Mars Attacks by the time the good guys were done with the place.
