The opening snapshot and the later changes need to stay separate, particularly because this stretch leads into a much longer version of the post-Phoenix team.

The opening snapshot and the later changes need to stay separate, particularly because this stretch leads into a much longer version of the post-Phoenix team. 1980, #139: Storm is the field leader. Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Angel and Kitty Pryde complete the active starting group, with Xavier as mentor. Kitty has already appeared in the Phoenix stories, but this is the new beginning that places her in the team's daily life. Her initial codename here is Sprite. 1981, #148: Angel leaves after his conflict over Wolverine's conduct. He belongs in this era's opening roster even though his second stay is short. His departure isn't the same event as Scott's return. 1981, #150: Cyclops rejoins the team during the Magneto crisis. The subsequent stories include both his renewed involvement and Storm's established leadership, with some friction over how the others respond to the two of them. 1983, #166–168: the real Lockheed appears during the Brood adventure in #166 and is found at the mansion in #168. He is a supporting companion, distinct from the imaginary dragon in Kitty's earlier fairy tale. At the end of #167, Xavier assigns Kitty to the New Mutants; #168 resolves her challenge to that decision and restores her place with the X-Men. 1983, #171: Rogue's admission starts the next roster chapter. Her entry and Rachel's later membership belong to that separate spotlight rather than being backdated into this one. 1983, #175: Scott marries Madelyne and leaves for his honeymoon. His post-Brood leave had already begun around #167–168. This final marker follows one of the era's returning members through his next transition; it doesn't imply that the original six-person lineup remained unchanged until the wedding. The team has carried on through every one of those changes, even when the faces around the table look different.