LORELAI: Maybe our rain gutters are radioactive or made out of some kind of alien metal so that when I cut my hand I got infected with an extraterrestrial substance which is altering my internal makeup. Uh, maybe I’ll turn into a superhero.
Lorelai refers to two different ways that comic book superheroes gain their superpowers. Two notable examples of superheroes who received their superpowers through radiation are Spider-Man, who was bitten by a radioactive spider, and The Incredible Hulk, who subjected himself to vast amounts of gamma radiation.
Other superheroes gain their superpowers from extraterrestrial bodies, such as meteorites, comets, and asteroids. Examples include Marvel’s Black Panther and DC’s Vandal Savage, who are a Neanderthal and a caveman, respectively. Objects fashioned from alien substances that bestow superpowers include the Green Lantern’s power ring.
The Annotated Gilmore Girls 