This is another issue that applies to both Survival and Creative. I am pretty sure this is an issue because it is not on the Minecraft Comparator page http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Redstone_Comparator. When placing a line of Comparators in a Westerly or Northenly direction, the is about a one tick delay between each Comparator, whereas facing in an Easterly or Southenly direction there is no delay. Both North and South have a one tick delay