Storm's depowered arc was SO GOOD. I love her with her powers too, but I loved how the storyline about her losing them was handled, and how instead of fading into the background without her powers she became even more central and kept right on leading the team.

And yes, that core team and their relationships were wonderful! Pretty much every pair out of those five characters have a really interesting relationship.

(And Frog Thor! My first experience with comics Thor was when he showed up, as a frog, to give Dani Moonstar some much-needed encouragement. So of course he came across as very kind and noble, and also he just happened to be a frog right then! Why wouldn't he be a frog, in this universe?)