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A 4-year-old boy who has spent 15 months fighting a brain tumor traded his hospital visits for a superhero cape on Sunday as Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island transformed this seaside town into his personal superhero universe.
Jackson "JJ" Weiss — known to his family as "Super JJ" — suited up in a custom blue-and-gold costume at Marblehead Outfitters on Washington Street, then spent the morning completing missions at local businesses before confronting a villain at the base of Marblehead Light at Chandler Hovey Park, where hundreds of residents had gathered to cheer him on.
The wish was the 11,000th granted by the organization, a milestone spanning more than four decades of service in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It also launches World Wish Month, an annual April campaign to raise awareness for Make-A-Wish nationwide.
JJ was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor in late 2024 after a visit to a local emergency room for persistent headaches. He was airlifted to Boston, where he underwent an 11-hour brain surgery three days later. In the months since, he has endured high-dose chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and radiation. Following complications from surgery, he was mute for six weeks and had to relearn how to use his arms and legs.
Even through treatment, JJ held on to superheroes. He created his own Super JJ character, originally as a bedtime story, that became a coping tool during procedures: while undergoing treatment, Super JJ heads out on a rescue mission, always saving the day.
On Sunday, that story came to life.
After suiting up, JJ reported to his superhero headquarters at Mud Puddle Toys on Pleasant Street, where he met "Super Coach," played by Make-A-Wish wish coordinator Colin Vigneault. Missions followed at Saltwater Bookstore and Shubie's Marketplace, where JJ woke "sleeping" employees and fueled up for battle.
His teammates were his twin brother, Luke, 4, and sister Ellie, 18 months, all three in custom costumes made by Ana Penuelas.
The adventure's climax came at Chandler Hovey Park, where the villain Triple Z — an evildoer who had been lulling townspeople to sleep with evil lullabies — waited at the base of the lighthouse. Triple Z was played by Dave DeJohn, a former professional wrestler and director of operations for Hannaford.
JJ took him down.
Members of the Marblehead Police Department handcuffed Triple Z and hauled him to a holding cell at the station on Gerry Street. The crowd erupted. JJ's father, Zach Weiss, lifted him into the air as hundreds of supporters clapped and cheered.
A celebration followed at Seaside Park on Atlantic Avenue, where community members gathered for a "press conference" thanking Super JJ for saving the town.
The Marblehead Select Board had proclaimed March 29 "Superhero Day" in JJ's honor. Local businesses along the route participated in the event, with employees volunteering their time. Transportation was provided by a custom race car and Michael's Limousine of Peabody.
The event was produced in partnership with Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, whose staff included CEO Sean Holleran and chief mission officer Amy Carroll. The alert video that kicked off the day was produced by a team at NBC10 Boston.
JJ's mother, Samantha Weiss, has said the wish day was a chance to celebrate JJ's strength and bravery and to give him even more reason to keep fighting.
On his good days, JJ can be found biking and riding scooters with his twin brother, Luke.
On Sunday, he saved a town.
Scenes from Sunday’s Make-A-Wish superhero adventure in Marblehead, where 4-year-old Jackson “JJ” Weiss — known as “Super JJ” — took on the role of the town’s hero for a day. After suiting up in a custom costume, JJ and his twin brother Luke, both 4, set out on a series of missions at local businesses before confronting the villain Triple Z at the base of Marblehead Light in Chandler Hovey Park. INDEPENDENT PHOTOS / KATIE RING
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