San Diego Comic-Con has officially kicked off, with the convention opening its doors Wednesday evening as fans congregated in the city’s downtown. Additionally, the Paramount+ Lounge greeted conventiongoers with an interesting series of displays, activities, and experiences a block from the convention floor, with some unique keepsakes for those able to get through the door.
The lounge has multiple rooms focusing on one of Paramount’s upcoming shows, each with varying levels of theming. I was fortunate enough to drop into the pop-up at 5 PM, but a long line of convention goers was gathered outside, standing in line since noon, knowing full well that they wouldn’t enter the lounge until early evening. Each fan I spoke to in line mentioned the custom Star Trek t-shirt as the reason for waiting hours in the sun.
After making their way into the center fireplace lounge, guests splintered into the assorted corridors.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is having a moment at this year’s con, and the new animated program was center stage in the lounge. Set in a flamboyant ally, you picked up a slice of pizza and non-alcoholic cocktails dedicated to each of the heroes (I opted for Raphael, understandably).
Criminal Minds: Evolution had a puzzle to solve, and temporary tattoos were available in the Ink Master parlor. A photo-op was also available for the upcoming Ryan Reynold children’s film If.
The surprise hit was the room dedicated to Ghosts, where guests were treated to perfumes designed for many of the show’s characters. A very cool experience, with a knowledgeable set of actors who helped pair patrons with a germane scent.
The SpongeBob room reminded me how old I had become as the show celebrated its 25th year.
The make-your-own Star Trek shirt station was the busiest, with a line cutoff being put in place numerous times throughout my hour-long stay. Fans could select from a series of Star Trek visuals and phrases and have them ironed onto a shirt for free.
Unquestionably, it’s a cool takeaway, especially for fans of the storied franchise!
While there is a lot to do at Comic-Con, off-site experiences like the Paramount+ Lounge offer a series of cool activities worthy of partaking in (if you’re willing to brave the line).
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