He was originally a mortal hero before his father, Zeus, made him a god upon death.

A mortal hero.

In the Vedas, gods battle dragons, but in Iranian tradition, this is a function of mortal heroes.

The name Hermód seems to be applied to a mortal hero in the eddic poem Hyndluljóð (stanza 2):

As a mortal hero, Óðr enters Valhal.

To confuse matters other texts know of a mortal hero named Hermód or Heremod.

After the mythological poems Codex Regius continues with heroic lays about mortal heroes.

The heroes, both mortal and superhuman, were white, although at least one, the Spirit, had a black sidekick.

Oh, to smite the mortal hero with longing!

It bored the readers who'd become accustomed to more mortal heroes, like Spiderman, who risk their lives in every adventure.