It's not a food metaphor, nor is it about displaying something heroic, although that's much closer. "Hero image" comes from "hero props" which "are the more detailed pieces intended for close inspection by the camera or audience. ... The name refers to their typical use by main characters in a production." [0]
Since the name arises from use by a hero, then to extend the metaphor by direct analogy, the actual hero is the overall article/content in which a hero image is contained.
That said, a "hero sandwich" is that which "one needed to be a hero to finish" [1] so does all tie back to the idea of heroism regardless.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prop#Hero
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clementine_Paddleford#Writing_...