Hint #1 added March 18, 2012, 2:14pm

so the puzzle's hard you say, and you want a clue
well there's an 8 word long one in panel 2

and while all the grids have something to say
finding the right phrases may help you on the way

while your quest for coordinates may end in despair
there's something else worth hunting to make you aware

for perhaps the observant will find the important pieces and have a shot
'cause sometimes it isn't what's there, it's what's not

show me hint #2